Stick for cathode plates



Feb. 29, 1944. M. TETRAULT STICK FOR CATHODE PLATES Filed April '15, 1941 Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,343,161 STICK roncarnoon PLATES Michael Tetrault, Great Falls, Mont. Application April 15, 194 1, Serial No. 388,705

5 Claims. (01. 204-297)' This invention. relates to apparatus for use in electrolytic processes, but more particularly to n ed e. p tecting member designed primarily for use in connection with. cathode plates, but it is to be understood; that an edge protectin memher in accordance with this invention is for em:- ployment in any connection for which it may be found applicable.

The invention formingthe subject matter of this application is a continuation in. part: of my application filed. November 16, 1938,, Serial No. 240,814,, allowed November 1:9,. 1594i).

In the practice of certain electrolytic processes, particularly those relating to the: electrolytic deposition'of metals, such as zinc and copper, it is important that an edge protector be provided to prevent the metal from forming completely around the cathode plate. Generally for this purpose a strip, or what is called a stick, isaemployed, and it is in the form of a, stripv of wood, longitudinally grooved, the width. oi the groove being slightly less than the thickness of the oathode plate. The stick is forced onto the plate, from an edge. of the latter and held! frictionally in position by the walls of the. groove. Sticks of such type when. used often become detached from. the plate, warped, rotted, split. and cracked due to the action of the electrolyte which renders them. useless.v

The stick. forming the. subject of this, invention is not only an improvement upon the form or stick aforesaid, but also the. stick disclosed by U. S. Letters; Patent 1,977,499 and Canadian .Patent 367,412 granted to me. The stick, in accordance. with. this; invention not. only embodies all the aims, advantages and objects as set forth by the Letters. Patent aforesaid. but iurtheraims to so construct a stickof the gripping type where,- by its durability and strength is materially increased;- enhancing and maintaining its gripping characteristic to an extent greater than such characterisitc possessed by otherforms of sticks; capable of beingdetached' from one plate and positioned in gripping relation with respect to another plate, having a metallic core encased by an insulating covering possessing a solid gripping characteristic; capable of being readily attached to the top, bottom and sides of aplate when desired; and when used permittingof the metal, deposited onto the plate to be easily stripped off.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a stick for the purpose referred to formed of a composite length.- wise grooved body including a core encompassed by an insulating cover, with the core being so disposed relatively to the cover, to provide the latter with a pair of resilient. portions functioning to friction-ally grip the stick to the. plate, and with said portions of a thickness to compensate for wear, when connecting the stick to and removing it from the plate whereby the life of the stick for itsuse will be materially increased.

Embodyingthe aforesaid aims, and others which. may directly or indirectly hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construc tion, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which. fall within the, scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a. cathode plate showing the adaptation with the marginalportions: and edges thereof. a stick in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in section of one corner of the structure shown in Figure I,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of stick, in accordance with this invention,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of one corner of the structure shown inv Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a section on lines 5-5- Figures 1 and 3 showing the transverse cross sectional contourof the sticks, I a

Figure 6- is a detail front elevation of a pair of sticks used on opposite sides of a. plate which is-longer than the length of the sticks and used in zinc plating,

Figure 7 is another form of stick structure used in copper. plating,v and Figured is a tragmen-tary view in vertical section of a pair of abutting sticks, in accordance with this invention, illustrating the manner by which the sticks maintain an anode in spaced relation with respect to a cathode to prevent short circuiting.

The stick may be of a length slightly less or slightly greater than the length of any one of the edges of the cathode plate, as is shown byFigure 1 or of a length corresponding to the combined length of the edges. of the cathode plate as is shown by Figure 3. In. Figures 1 and 2,. the stick is generally indicated at 6, in Figures 3 and iat 1,. in Figure. 5 at 8. In Figures I. to 7 of the drawing the cathode. plate is correspondingly designated 8*. By way of example, plate 8 is illustrated as of rectangular contour.

With reference to the sticks 6, I and 8 they include metallic cores 9, Ill, II respectively and insulating elastic plate gripping covers l2, l3 and H! for the cores 9, l0, H respectively. The transverse cross sectional contours of the said cores are the same. The transverse cross sectional contours of the covers are the same. shape of each of the cores in transverse cross section and the shape of each of the covers in transverse cross section is shown by Figure 5.

Each core, with reference to Figure 5 is of substantially yoke-shaped form and consists .0! a pair of spaced aligned side parts I5, l5 disposed at opposite outward inclinations from their inner to their outer ends, and a coupling part I! disposed at right angles to and merging into the inner ends of the side parts l5, Hi. This manner of setting up the core provides its outer or open end of a greater width than its inner or closed end, or in other words the core is oi a form which flares from its inner or closed end to its outer or open end. The corners l8 of the core, at the points of mergence of the side parts l5, IS with the coupling part I! are rounded. Preferably, the body of the core will be of uniform thickness and will be set up from any suitable metallic material, preferably aluminum.

Each cover, with reference to Figure 5 is of substantially yoke-shaped form and consists of a pair of spaced aligned side parts I9, 20 and a coupling part 2| disposed at right angles to and merging into the inner ends of said side parts. The parts I9, 20, 2| coact to provide a groove 22 having aflat base wall 23 and a pair of side walls 24, 25 of greater width than the base wall. The side walls are oppositely outwardly inclined to an extent to provide for the mouth of the groove to be slightly wider than the base wall 23. The cover is formed of any suitable insulating ma terial possessing an elastic characteristic whereby the cover will embody a gripping function, and preferably, the cover will be formed of rubber. The cover in transverse cross section is of greater length than the transverse cross sectional length of the core.

The core is embedded in the cover in a manner to have its coupling part I! positioned centrally with respect to the coupling part 2| of the cover, such as shown in Figure 5. When the core is embedded in the cover, its side parts I5, l6 will be disposed at opposite outward inclinations within the side parts of the cover, and with the said side parts of the core positioned a greater distance from the side walls 24, 25 of the roove 22 than the distance between the core side parts and the other side surfaces 26 of the cover. The outer ends of the core side parts will be spaced inwardly adjacent to the end surfaces 21 of the cover side parts. The manner of setting up the core with respect to the cover provides the cover side parts with thick elastic ripping portions 28 whereby the life of the lattter will be increased.

When a stick is active, it is mounted through the medium of the groove 22 upon the cathode plate in a manner to have an edge of the latter abut the groove base wall and opposite marginal portions of the plate bear on the side walls of the groove, and due to the action of the gripping portions 25, they will tightly grip the said marginal portions of the cathode plate whereby the stick and the plate will be secured together by a frictional latch. The providing of the mouth of the groove slightly wider than the base wall 23 facilitates the positioning of the stick on the plate and reduce wear on the gripping portions 28 as the plate is inserted into the groove.

The cover [2 for the core 3 is to completely encase the latter, that is to say the cover [2 not only encompasses the coupling and side parts of the core, but also has the ends of the latter embedded herein. One or a plurality of sticks 6 may be secured to cathode plate. When a plurality of sticks 6 are employed they are mounted on the lengthwise and side edges of the plate as is shown by Figure 1. The sticks B which are to be mounted on the lengthwise edges of the plate are to be of less length than the length of such edges, and the sticks 6 mounted on the side edges of the plate are to be of greater length than the length of such edges, and of a length to abut the ends of the sticks 6 mounted on the lengthwise edges of the plate.

The stick 1 is to be of a length whereby it may be bent in the form of a frame corresponding in contour to the shape of the cathode plate, and the frame is to be of a size to be mounted on the plate in overlapping relation with respect to the lengthwise and side edges of the plate, as is shown by Figure 3. When stick I is set up in frame-like form it is formed with spaced in wardly opening notches 29 and has'its ends mitered as at 30 whereby when the frame is formed it will have perfect corners. After the frame has been formed and mounted in the cathode plate the edges of the mitered ends and the edges of the notches are vulcanized together.

The stick 8 may be of the length and form corresponding to stick 6 or of a length and form corresponding to stick I.

When the cover is formed of other material than that of rubber, it is secured to the core by any suitable means, but when formed of rubber it is vulcanized to the core.

In Figure 6 there is disclosed a pair of sticks 6 which are positioned on opposite sides of the plate 8% The sticks 6 are similar in every detail to the stick disclosed in Figure 5, but in the present instance, the sticks 6 have a length relatively shorter than the length of the plate 8" and this construction has been found particularly adapted for use in zinc plating. The zinc deposit on the plate 8 can be stripped therefrom more readily than a copper deposit and for this reason a bottom edge stick is not necessary for zinc plating. In copper plating where the edges of the cathode plate are not encased, the copper plating will completely encase the cathode plate thereby making it difficult to strip the copper from the plate. The sticks 6 prevent the formation of the zinc on the longitudinal edges of the'plate 8.

In Figure 7 there is disclosed a further modification of stick structure wherein sticks 6 are positioned on the opposite longitudinal edges of the plate 8 and there is also positioned an end stick 6 at the lower end of the plate 8. This U-shaped arrangement of the stick structure has been found particularly adaptable in copper plating so as to prevent the accumulation of copper at the lower end and at the longitudinal edges of the plate 8. The sticks 6 and 6 are mounted on the plate by pressing the sticks inwardly of the edges thereof, the channel in each stick being of such a width that the plate will be firmly gripped by the opposite sides of the stick. The metal core of each stick will effect a firm grip on the opposite sides of the plate at all times. The

sticks 6 and 6 are similar in every detail to the stick disclosed by Figure 5.

With reference to Figure 8, sticks 3|, 32 are of the same construction as the stickB, as shown. The stick 3| is attached on an anode 33 and the stick 32 on a cathode plate 34. The sticks 3f, 32 are in abutting relation and owing to the manner in which they are constructed, anode 33 is spaced from the plate 34 to prevent short circuiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a removable stick for a cathode plate, a composite rectangular body comprising a me-- tallic core and an elastic cover of non-conducte ing material for the core, said core being of yoke-shaped contour having its open end of greater width than its closed end and consisting of a pair of spaced opposed upstanding straight side parts of like form disposed at opposite outward inclinations and a horizontal coupling part merging into corresponding ends of said side parts, the transverse cross sectional length of each of said side parts being uniform through: out, said cover being of yoke-shaped contour having its open end corresponding in width to its closed end and consisting of a pair of spaced parallel upstanding side portions of like form and a horizontal coupling portion merging into corresponding ends of said side portions, the transverse cross sectional length of each of said side portions being uniform throughout, the thickness of each of said side portions being uniform throughout, said side portions completely encompassing and binding throughout against said side parts, said coupling portion completely encompassing and binding throughout against said coupling part, said coupling portion bridging the space between said side portions, the inner surfaces of said side and coupling portions being so related to form the cover with a groove for mounting the stick on the plate, and the said inner surfaces forming the walls and bottom of said groove for frictional engagement with the plate to thereby connect the latter to the stick.

2. An edge encasing member for a cathode plate comprising a metallic core having a U- shaped contour in transverse section, the sides of the core diverging from the bight thereof, and a. rubber covering encompassing said core, said covering being of U-shaped contour in transverse section and forming a plate receiving groove insulated from said core, that portion of the covering disposed inwardly of the inner surfaces of the sides of the core being of greater thickness than that portion of the covering which is disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the sides of the core the thickness of the covering on the inner sides of the core increasingin thickness from the bight to the ends of the divergent legs thereof with the confronting portions of said covering in parallelism.

3. In combination, a rectangular cathode plate and a rectangular frame about the marginal edges of the plate, said frame comprising a metallic core-having a U-shaped contour in transverse section, the sides of the core diverging from the bight thereof, and a rubber covering encompassing said core, said covering being of U-shaped contour in transverse section and forming a plate receiving groove insulated from said core, that portion of the covering disposed inwardly of the inner surfaces of the sides of the ,core being of greater thickness than that portion of the covering which is disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the sides of the core the thickness of the covering on the inner sides of the core increasing in thickness from the bight to the ends of the divergent legs thereof with the confronting portions of said covering in parallelism.

4. A cathode plate stick comprising a member U-shaped in side elevation and also U-shaped in transverse, section, said member comprising a metallic core having a U-shaped contour in transverse section, the sides of the core diverging from the bight thereof, and a rubber covering encompassing said core, said covering being of U-shaped contour in transverse section and forming a plate receiving groove insulated from said core, that portion of the covering disposed inwardly of the inner surfaces of the sides of the core being of greater thickness than that portion of the covering which is disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the sides of the core the thickness of the covering on the inner sides of the core increasing in thickness from the bight to the ends of the divergent legs thereof with the confronting portions of said covering in parallelism.

5. A cathode plate stick comprising a member rectangular in side elevation and U-shaped in transverse section, said member comprising a metallic core having a U-shaped contour in transverse section, the sides of the core diverging from the bight thereof, and a rubber covering encompassing said core, said covering being of U-shaped contour in transverse section and forming a plate receiving groove, insulated from said core, that portion of the covering disposed inwardly of the inner surfaces of the sides of the core being of greater thickness than that portion of the covering which is disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the sides of the core the thickness of the covering on the inner sides of the core increasing in thickness from the bight to the ends of the divergent legs thereof with the confronting portions of said covering in parallelism.

MICHAEL TETRAULT. 

